Swimming

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children younger than 14. And in predominantly black and brown communities, the youth drowning rate is often 2-3 times higher than the national average.

With generous support from the Kara Kennedy Fund, every Horizons Newark student learns to swim. Most students come to the program as non-swimmers who are afraid of the water. We’ve found that when their teachers join them in the pool, students learn trust and build self-esteem – and those qualities spill over into the classroom.

Learning to swim:

• Transforms a feared challenge into a favorite activity
• Encourages attention to detail and commitment to a goal
• Teaches resilience and strategies to overcome fears and obstacles
• Inspires a healthy lifestyle
• Introduces a competitive sport
• Teaches skills for summer employment
• Is FUN – it’s the overwhelming favorite among Horizons students